The Wicker Man

Poster for The Wicker Man
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An island lost to unspeakable terrors of pagan rituals!

The Wicker Man (1973) centers on a devout police sergeant who travels to a remote Scottish island to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. As the islanders obstruct his search, he becomes increasingly disturbed by their pagan beliefs and rituals, which stand in stark contrast to his Christian faith. This British folk horror film combines mystery, religious conflict, pagan ritual, and folk music with an atmosphere of mounting unease.

  • Perfectly realized, flawlessly acted, and brilliantly scored, this exceptional contribution to maverick British cinema very nearly didn’t get a release at all. British horror movies of the preceding decade had mostly been gothic or Wheatley-esque in flavour, whereas The Wicker Man, like Blood on Satan’s Claw, used the old religions and calendar customs of the British Isles for inspiration—the mise en scène being rural/outdoorsy rather than funereal/camp. The bedrock idea is that of a clash of faiths—between Woodward’s uptight Calvinist policeman (Sergeant Howie) and the blatantly sexual, heathen practices of the inhabitants of Summerisle, where he is lured to investigate the disappearance of a young girl.

    Kerri Sharp, The Definitive Guide to Horror Movies (Thunder Bay Press, 2025)

The Wicker Man 4K UHD, Blu-ray & DVD editions

See which disc extras are included across selected editions.

Disc Extras
Lions Gate BD-A 4K/US 2023
Studio Canal BD-B 4K/UK 2023
Lions Gate BD-A/US 2014
Imprint BD-ALL/AU 2022
Studio Canal BD-B/UK 2013
Anchor Bay DVD-1/US/OOP 2006
Anchor Bay DVD-1/US/OOP 2001
Audio Commentary by Kim Newman and Sean Hogan [Theatrical Version]
Audio Commentary by Director Robin Hardy and Actors Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, Moderated by Mark Kermode [Director’s Cut]
Audio Commentary by William Fowler and Vic Pratt [The Final Cut]
“The Wicker Man” Enigma (34:35)
Burnt Offering: The Cult of “The Wicker Man” (2001, 49:05)
Ex-S: “The Wicker Man” (1998, 30:19)
“The Wicker Man” at 50 (10:46)
Forged in Folklore: The Fakery of “The Wicker Man” - Video Essay by Adam Scovell (12:28)
Revisiting the Locations of “The Wicker Man” (11:50)
Robin Hardy’s Script: The Lost Ending (10:46)
Willow’s Song & The Liberation of Eve – “The Wicker Man”: Sexual Revolution, Counterculture, and Satanic Feminism - Video Essay by Kat Ellinger (23:37)
Worshiping “The Wicker Man” (22:40)
The Golden Bough - Interview with David Huckvale (15:26)
The Music of “The Wicker Man” - Interview with Associate Musical Director Gary Carpenter and Jonny Trunk (15:28)
Archival Interview with Director Robin Hardy and Actor Christopher Lee (1979, 24:52)
Interview with David Huckvale on the Music of “The Wicker Man” (34:48)
Interview with Actress Britt Ekland (10:23)
Interview with Director Robin Hardy (16:21)
Interview with Musician Robert Reed (3:39)
Interview with Musicians Stephen Cracknell and Mike Lindsay (2:07)
Q&A with Director Robin Hardy (2013, 11:24)
Audio Commentary Footage of Director Robin Hardy, Actors Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, and Moderator Mark Kermode (2001, 15:52)
Restoration Comparison (1:55)
Stills Gallery (1:04)
Biography: Actor Christopher Lee - Written by Avie Hern (21 Screens)
Biography: Actor Edward Woodward - Written by Avie Hern (18 Screens)
Biography: Director Robin Hardy - Written by Mark Wickum (14 Screens)
Biography: Writer Anthony Shaffer - Written by Avie Hern (19 Screens)
“The Final Cut” Trailer (1:29)
UK Theatrical Trailer (2:11)
US Theatrical Trailer (1:57)
US TV Spot (0:35)
US Radio Spots (0:60 x4, 0:30 x10)
“Willows Song” - Promo Video by Robert Reed Featuring Angharad Brinn (5:55)

Edition and Packaging Notes

  • Lions Gate’s 2023 “50th Anniversary Release” 4K UHD Steelbook is only available at Best Buy.
  • Studio Canal’s 2023 “50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition” 4K UHD contains a 64-page booklet with writing by Justin and Dominic Hardy (“Introduction”), David Pinner (“Ritual: A Novel”), John Walsh (“‘Wicker Man’: The Flickering Myth”), and Rosie Fletcher (“Summerisle: An Island of Unsafe Women”); three art cards; two foldout posters; and a CD of songs. It is also available as a SteelBook without paper material and CD.
  • Imprint’s Blu-ray includes a soundtrack CD.
  • Studio Canal’s 2013 “3 Disc Set” Blu-ray includes a soundtrack CD.
  • Anchor Bay’s “Limited Edition” DVD comes in a wooden box with postcard-sized reproductions of the British and US posters.
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Collector’s guide

Compare presentation quality and explore notable disc extras across selected editions.

The Wicker Man title screen
  • Screen shot for “The Wicker Man” Enigma
    “The Wicker Man” Enigma (34:34)
  • Screen shot for Burnt Offering: The Cult of “The Wicker Man”
    Burnt Offering: The Cult of “The Wicker Man” (2001, 50:22)
  • Screen shot for Ex-S: “The Wicker Man”
    Ex-S: “The Wicker Man” (1998, 30:19)
  • Screen shot for “The Wicker Man” at 50
    “The Wicker Man” at 50 (10:44)
  • Screen shot for Forged in Folklore: The Fakery of “The Wicker Man”
    Forged in Folklore: The Fakery of “The Wicker Man” (12:28)
  • Screen shot for Revisiting the Locations of “The Wicker Man”
    Revisiting the Locations of “The Wicker Man” (11:48)
  • Screen shot for Robin Hardy’s Script: The Lost Ending
    Robin Hardy’s Script: The Lost Ending (10:44)
  • Screen shot for Willow’s Song & The Liberation of Eve – “The Wicker Man”: Sexual Revolution, Counterculture, and Satanic Feminism
    Willow’s Song & The Liberation of Eve – “The Wicker Man”: Sexual Revolution, Counterculture, and Satanic Feminism (23:37)
  • Screen shot for Worshiping “The Wicker Man”
    Worshiping “The Wicker Man” (23:34)
  • Screen shot for The Golden Bough
    The Golden Bough (15:26)
  • Screen shot for The Music of “The Wicker Man”
    The Music of “The Wicker Man” (16:00)
  • Screen shot for Archival Interview with Director Robin Hardy and Actor Christopher Lee
    Archival Interview with Director Robin Hardy and Actor Christopher Lee (1979, 25:53)
  • Screen shot for Interview with David Huckvale on the Music of “The Wicker Man”
    Interview with David Huckvale on the Music of “The Wicker Man” (34:48)
  • Screen shot for Interview with Actress Britt Ekland
    Interview with Actress Britt Ekland (10:21)
  • Screen shot for Interview with Director Robin Hardy
    Interview with Director Robin Hardy (16:59)
  • Screen shot for Interview with Musician Robert Reed
    Interview with Musician Robert Reed (3:39)
  • Screen shot for Interview with Musicians Stephen Cracknell and Mike Lindsay
    Interview with Musicians Stephen Cracknell and Mike Lindsay (2:07)
  • Screen shot for Q&A with Director Robin Hardy
    Q&A with Director Robin Hardy (2013, 11:24)
  • Screen shot for Audio Commentary Footage of Director Robin Hardy, Actors Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, and Moderator Mark Kermode
    Audio Commentary Footage of Director Robin Hardy, Actors Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, and Moderator Mark Kermode (2001, 16:39)
  • Screen shot for Restoration Comparison
    Restoration Comparison (1:52)
  • Screen shot for “Willows Song”
    “Willows Song” (5:55)
Editions
Lions Gate box art
Lions Gate 4K 2023
  • Video
      • HEVC
      • 2160p
      • Dolby Vision, HDR10
      • 1.85:1
      • The Final Cut
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p
      • 1.85:1
      • The Final Cut
  • Audio
      • English LPCM 2.0 Mono
  • Subtitles
    • English
    • English SDH
    • Spanish
Studio Canal box art
Studio Canal 4K 2023
  • Video
      • HEVC
      • 2160p
      • Dolby Vision, HDR10
      • 1.85:1
      • The Final Cut
      • HEVC
      • 2160p
      • Dolby Vision, HDR10
      • 1.85:1
      • Theatrical Version
      • HEVC
      • 2160p
      • Dolby Vision, HDR10
      • 1.85:1
      • Director’s Cut
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p24
      • 37.73 Mbps
      • 1.85:1
      • 1:34:49.920
      • 28.11 GiB
      • The Final Cut
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p24
      • 23.86 Mbps
      • 1.85:1
      • 1:28:38.045
      • 17.69 GiB
      • Theatrical Version
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p24
      • 23.87 Mbps
      • 1.85:1
      • 1:41:05.085
      • 18.57 GiB
      • Director’s Cut
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p24
      • 23.87 Mbps
      • 1.85:1
      • 1:41:05.200
      • 18.49 GiB
      • Director’s Cut w/Commentary
  • Audio
      • English LPCM 2.0 Mono
      • 48 kHz
      • 2304 kbps
      • 24-bit
      • The Final Cut/Theatrical Version/Director’s Cut
      • German LPCM 2.0 Mono
      • 48 kHz
      • 2304 kbps
      • 24-bit
      • The Final Cut
      • French LPCM 2.0 Mono
      • 48 kHz
      • 2304 kbps
      • 24-bit
      • Theatrical Version
  • Subtitles
    • English
    • French
    • German
Lions Gate box art
Lions Gate BD 2014
  • Video
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p24
      • 34.87 Mbps
      • 1.85:1
      • 1:34:09.041
      • 24.22 GiB
      • The Final Cut
  • Audio
      • English DTS-HD MA 1.0
      • 48 kHz
      • 1097 kbps
      • 24-bit
  • Subtitles
    • English
    • English SDH
    • Spanish
Imprint box art
Imprint BD 2022
  • Video
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p23.976
      • 33.00 Mbps
      • 1.85:1
      • 1:33:23.875
      • 23.72 GiB
      • The Final Cut
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p24
      • 25.02 Mbps
      • 1.85:1
      • 1:28:08.625
      • 18.26 GiB
      • Theatrical Version
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p24
      • 28.00 Mbps
      • 1.85:1
      • 1:40:44.625
      • 21.13 GiB
      • Director’s Cut
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 480i
      • 12.00 Mbps
      • 1.84:1
      • 1:39:41.980
      • 10.37 GiB
      • Director’s Cut w/Commentary
  • Audio
      • English LPCM 2.0 Mono
      • 48 kHz
      • 2304 kbps
      • 24-bit
      • The Final Cut/Theatrical Version/Director’s Cut
      • English LPCM 2.0 Mono
      • 48 kHz
      • 1536 kbps
      • 16-bit
      • Director’s Cut w/Commentary
  • Subtitles
    • English SDH
Studio Canal box art
Studio Canal BD 2013
  • Video
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p23.976
      • 25.00 Mbps
      • 1.85:1
      • 1:33:08.460
      • 17.74 GiB
      • The Final Cut
      • MPEG-4 AVC
      • 1080p23.976
      • 25.00 Mbps
      • 1.85:1
      • 1:28:14.125
      • 16.81 GiB
      • Theatrical Version
      • MPEG-2
      • 576i
      • 10.03 Mbps
      • 1.83:1
      • 1:40:00.820
      • 9.17 GiB
      • Director’s Cut
  • Audio
      • English LPCM 2.0 Mono
      • 48 kHz
      • 2304 kbps
      • 24-bit
      • The Final Cut/Theatrical Version
      • English LPCM 2.0 Mono
      • 48 kHz
      • 1536 kbps
      • 16-bit
      • Director’s Cut
  • Subtitles
    • English
Extras Audio Commentary by Kim Newman and Sean Hogan [Theatrical Version] Imprint BD
Audio Commentary by Director Robin Hardy and Actors Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, Moderated by Mark Kermode [Director’s Cut] Imprint BD
Audio Commentary by William Fowler and Vic Pratt [The Final Cut] Imprint BD
“The Wicker Man” Enigma (34:34, 720p) Imprint BD
Burnt Offering: The Cult of “The Wicker Man” (2001, 50:22, 1080p) Imprint BD
Ex-S: “The Wicker Man” (1998, 30:19, 720p) Imprint BD
“The Wicker Man” at 50 (10:44, 1080i50) Studio Canal 4K
Forged in Folklore: The Fakery of “The Wicker Man” - Video Essay by Adam Scovell (12:28, 1080p) Imprint BD
Revisiting the Locations of “The Wicker Man” (11:48, 1080i50) Studio Canal 4K
Robin Hardy’s Script: The Lost Ending (10:44, 1080i50) Studio Canal 4K
Willow’s Song & The Liberation of Eve – “The Wicker Man”: Sexual Revolution, Counterculture, and Satanic Feminism - Video Essay by Kat Ellinger (23:37, 1080p) Imprint BD
Worshiping “The Wicker Man” (23:34, 1080p) Imprint BD
The Golden Bough - Interview with David Huckvale (15:26, 1080p) Imprint BD
The Music of “The Wicker Man” - Interview with Associate Musical Director Gary Carpenter and Jonny Trunk (16:00, 1080p) Imprint BD
Archival Interview with Director Robin Hardy and Actor Christopher Lee (1979, 25:53, 720p) Imprint BD
Interview with David Huckvale on the Music of “The Wicker Man” (34:48, 1080p) Imprint BD
Interview with Actress Britt Ekland (10:21, 1080p) Studio Canal 4K
Interview with Director Robin Hardy (16:59, 1080p) Imprint BD
Interview with Musician Robert Reed (3:39, 1080p) Imprint BD
Interview with Musicians Stephen Cracknell and Mike Lindsay (2:07, 1080p) Imprint BD
Q&A with Director Robin Hardy (2013, 11:24, 1080p) Imprint BD
Audio Commentary Footage of Director Robin Hardy, Actors Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, and Moderator Mark Kermode (2001, 16:39, 720p) Imprint BD
Restoration Comparison (1:52, 1080p) Imprint BD
Stills Gallery (1:07, 1080p) Studio Canal 4K
Biography: Actor Christopher Lee - Written by Avie Hern (21 Screens) Anchor Bay DVD
Biography: Actor Edward Woodward - Written by Avie Hern (18 Screens) Anchor Bay DVD
Biography: Director Robin Hardy - Written by Mark Wickum (14 Screens) Anchor Bay DVD
Biography: Writer Anthony Shaffer - Written by Avie Hern (19 Screens) Anchor Bay DVD
“The Final Cut” Trailer (1:27, 1080p) Imprint BD
UK Theatrical Trailer (2:14, 720p) Imprint BD
US Theatrical Trailer (1:57, 1080p) Imprint BD
US TV Spot (0:35, 720p) Imprint BD
US Radio Spots (0:60 x4, 0:30 x10) Imprint BD
“Willows Song” - Promo Video by Robert Reed Featuring Angharad Brinn (5:55, 1080p) Imprint BD

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